Highly experienced coach Tom Sermanni could be featuring in a fourth FIFA Women’s World Cup™ after being named to lead New Zealand on Friday.

Most recently coach of NWSL club Orlando Pride, Sermanni previously led USA for two years.

The Glasgow-born Sermanni first featured at the Women’s World Cup in 1995 with Australia, and returned to lead the Matildas to a breakthrough quarter-final appearance in 2007, before reprising the feat four years later in Germany.

Sermanni will name his first New Zealand squad next week ahead of the OFC Women’s Nations Cup, which doubles as qualifiers for the 2019 Women’s World Cup and the 2020 Women’s Olympic Football Tournament.

The tournament commences on 17 November in New Caledonia with only the winner to qualify for France 2019.

Sermanni has been named as coach of the Football Ferns until next year’s Women’s World Cup.

“Tom has the experience to bring the group together in a short time frame in order to perform to their potential during qualifying and if successful, on to the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup,” said New Zealand interim Technical Director Andy Boyens.

“Tom has a good understanding of that current playing group that will enable him to hit the ground running. He also has a passion for football in this part of the world and will be a great cultural fit for New Zealand Football and the Football Ferns.”

Norwegian Even Pellerud holds the coaching record for most Women’s World Cup appearances with five in total for Norway and Canada.